Pelargonium plant named ‘Duevicher09’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Duevicher09’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; semi-double cherry red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duevicher09’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duevicher09’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants withdark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-02-01, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium zonale identified as code number Z98-2476-004, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duevicher09’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duevicher09’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double cherry red-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have purple-colored flowers and plants of the male parentselection have orange red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘Duevicher’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,079.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Duevicher’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more compact than        plants of ‘Duevicher’.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves than        plants of ‘Duevicher’.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Duevicher’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duevicher09’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers in Rheinberg,Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and underconditions which closely approximate commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting. Plants had been growing for 13 weeks when thephotograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duevicher09’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-02-01, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code number Z98-2476-004, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; freely            basal branching habit with about three basal branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 14 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.9 cm.        -   Shape,—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Developing            and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to            137C; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Zonation pattern:            Distinct. Distance from margin: About 7 mm. Width: About            1.2 cm. Color: Close to 147A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to            143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;            umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles; flowers face upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 27            flowers and flower buds per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin            flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5.2 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter: About 5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 6.3 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 74B to 74C and 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About            2.6 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 45A and 57A. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 46C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45B and            57A; color becoming closer to 46A with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 43A; color becoming closer            to 46A to 46B with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three. Length: About            2.1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 45A and 57A. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 46C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3.7 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 144A tinted with close to 45D.            Color, lower surface: Close to 144A tinted with close to            46A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12.3 cm. Diameter:            About 3.7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A tinted with            close to 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Filament length: About 7.3 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155C and 63C. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 61A to 61B. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium:            Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm.            Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma color: Close to 45A to 46A.            Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 46A. Ovary            color: Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevicher09’ asillustrated and described.